"As widely expected, BI maintained its benchmark interest rate at 7.5 percent, which serves as one of the factors of the rupiahs strengthening," Bank Himpunan Saudaras money market observer, Rully Nova, said.
The rupiah edged up 51 points to close at 11,376 per dollar on Thursday evening, from its earlier mark of 11,427 per dollar.
The policies issued by BI and the government last year to keep the inflation rate in check and to lower the widening current account deficit were quite successful in maintaining the nation's economic stability, as expected, he said.
"The stable inflation rate and the narrowing of the current account deficit are the result of the BIs and the governments policies," he said.
Meanwhile, Monex Investindo Futures chief researcher Ariston Tjendra said Indonesias foreign exchange reserves, which rose to US$102 billion in February from US$100.7 billion one month earlier, sent a positive signal about the countrys economic fundamentals.
According to Bank Indonesias mid-rate on Thursday, March 13, the rupiah strengthened to Rp11,387 per dollar from Wednesdays close of Rp11,432 per dollar.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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